Free Web NovelChapter 235: Chapter 198: Offering a Cigarette to the Big Shot
"I’m having dinner with your dad tonight."
Lin Chu said casually as he walked out of the inner room, a faint smile on his face.
His words stunned not only Zhou Luan, but Zhou Xuan as well, who looked slightly taken aback.
’Didn’t Boss Zhou go to the Capital City to raise funds?’
’Did he really come all the way back just for something this minor?’
’Or... did President Lin talk to him about something else?’
"What did you say to my dad?"
Zhou Luan came to her senses and asked, pursing her lips.
From last night to now, her opinion of Lin Chu had changed. The label she’d given him had shifted from ’that bastard who stole my prized possession’ to ’that bastard who’s actually got some substance.’
"Loving parents always plan far ahead for their children. This is all for your sake, isn’t it?"
Lin Chu said with a grin.
Zhou Luan caught the subtle implication—he was playfully casting himself in a fatherly role. She could only roll her eyes at him, at a loss for a comeback.
Listening to the two of them bicker, Zhou Xuan suppressed a smile. After a moment’s thought, he said, "Well, I should head back to the company. I have a meeting in a bit. President Lin, we’ll talk later? Let me get your contact information."
He took out his phone.
Naturally, Lin Chu wouldn’t refuse and added his contact.
Seeing this, Zhou Luan chimed in, "And you can take me off your blacklist! What kind of terrible habit is that, blocking people at the slightest disagreement? You’re like an arrogant little princess!"
"Heh."
Lin Chu shot her a dismissive look. "Hardly. I’m a rank amateur compared to you. You’re the one who tries to shut down an entire club over a small disagreement. Where are you headed next? Are you going to have the whole city locked down?"
Zhou Luan: ...
’So petty!’
But she didn’t say that out loud.
There was a knock on the door. As Li Ziming came in, Zhou Xuan took the opportunity to leave.
After entering, Li Ziming looked at Lin Chu. "President Lin, you wanted to see me?"
"You know her, right?"
Lin Chu gestured with his chin.
Zhou Luan immediately put on a polite and sweet demeanor. "Hello, Uncle Li. Oh, I suppose I should be calling you President Li now."
She had quite the double standard.
In front of older men, she always put on a polite and well-behaved facade.
But toward guys her own age, like Lin Chu who was just a few years older, she had a natural arrogance that his status and position couldn’t quite smooth over.
Li Ziming, of course, recognized her. She was Boss Zhou’s daughter, after all.
It’s just... what is this about?
"President Zhou wants to help his daughter improve her people skills, so he asked me to arrange for her to intern at the club. After giving it some thought, I’ve decided you’ll supervise her. She’ll be your assistant for a three-month internship. There’s no salary."
Lin Chu said, a faint smile playing on his lips.
’It was all a matter of leverage.’
’Having handled Zhou Ming with the "loan" and with dinner plans already set for the evening, he naturally had the upper hand with Zhou Luan.’
’A penny saved is a penny earned.’
’She’s not short on cash anyway.’
’She should be glad I’m not making her pay for the privilege of working here.’
When Zhou Luan heard this, she took a deep breath and cried out, "Absolutely not! That’s illegal! You can’t withhold an intern’s wages!"
’Li Ziming could tell the two "youngsters" were having a squabble, and it almost felt like he was watching a pair of bickering lovers. ’Welp, this is none of my business,’ he thought. ’Best to just keep my mouth shut and enjoy the show.’’
"How much do you want then?"
Lin Chu asked with a theatrical sigh.
Zhou Luan tilted her head back to think, pouting. "Fifty thousand a month! That’s just a bit of my pocket money!"
At this, even Liang Jieyu, who was standing to the side, could barely suppress a laugh.
’So this is the standard for the daughter of a real estate tycoon, huh?’
"Then forget it. Why don’t you start a company and I’ll come intern for you? I’d take five thousand, tops. It’s just a token payment. Don’t push your luck."
Lin Chu slashed her offer down to a tenth.
She: ...
"Ten thousand!"
she said through gritted teeth.
"Not a chance. Five thousand, after taxes."
Zhou Luan glared at him, thinking he was more clueless than ever. "You don’t pay taxes on five thousand!"
Lin Chu... ahem.
He couldn’t help but let out an awkward chuckle.
’Crap, I forgot about that.’
"Even better, then. It’s pure take-home pay. The club will even cover your social insurance and housing fund contributions. Go on, go get your onboarding done."
Seeing how firm Lin Chu was, Zhou Luan took a deep breath and snorted. She couldn’t be bothered to argue with him anymore and turned to walk out the door.
Lin Chu shot him a look. Li Ziming excused himself and quickly followed her out.
’Done!’
Lin Chu stretched, lit a cigarette, performed a tactical lean-back, and settled comfortably into the sofa.
He thought for a moment, then took Zhou Luan off his blacklist, only to immediately send her a message: "During the equity transfer, your dad also gave me a file. It says that Li Ziming has embezzled over twenty million during his years at the club. Since you’ll be with him, keep your eyes open. Your dad let it slide, so I’ll look the other way on past incidents. But from now on, if you discover anything, report it to me immediately. You’ll get a ten percent cut of any funds recovered."
’Given Zhou Luan’s age and personality, she was bound to be incredibly straightforward. She also had an attachment to the club, so she would definitely not stand for this kind of thing.’
’As a matter of principle, there was no way she would collude with Li Ziming.’
’Since she’s going to be an assistant, might as well give her some extra work.’
’Got to make full use of your personnel, after all.’
「At that moment.」
Zhou Luan, who was on her way to the HR department to handle her onboarding paperwork, froze when she saw the message.
A wave of disbelief washed over her.
But she quickly understood.
’She understood the logic behind it.’
’Water that’s too pure can’t support fish.’
’And yet, Lin Chu’s approach earned her respect. The club was practically "hers," and the salaries were already high. How could someone still be so greedy?’
"Got it. But isn’t ten percent a little low?"
She replied nonchalantly, turning away from Li Ziming as an unconscious smile touched her lips.
Lin Chu: "11 percent, tops. Take it or leave it."
